Benadryl shrinks your brain. And so do these other common drugs.

Recent scientific findings show that Benadryl may cause dementia and its use is strongly linked to cognitive decline and shrinking of the brain. Say what? Yep. A study published in the JAMA in January 2015 provided one of the first demonstrations of this link, but a more recent study out of the University of Indiana confirms the connection between brain atrophy and anti-cholinergic drugs.

Other over-the-counter anti-cholinergic drugs linked to cognitive decline include the sleep aids Unisom and Tylenol PM, the cough medicine Dimetapp and the motion sickness medicine Dramamine. Two commonly prescribed drugs for over-active bladder, oxybutynin and tolterodine, are also closely linked to brain decline, as are the tricyclic anti-depressants and migraine medications doxepin and amitryptiline. Same thing with Paxil, commonly prescribed for depression.

Aren’t you just being dramatic? What did the study REALLY say?

The study used brain imaging techniques to determine if these drugs caused actual physical changes to the brain itself, and if there were any cognitive changes that manifested in the patients. The study included 451 patients with an average age of 73 years old. Sixty of the 451 people were taking an anti-cholinergic drug of the type mentioned above. The researchers used brain scans as well as memory and cognitive tests to determine if the drugs caused any changes.

The results demonstrated that there was definite lowered brain activity in the participants who used the anti-cholinergic drugs. There was also lowered activity in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Not coincidentally, the hipppocampus is the area of the brain that is most affected by Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition, the brains of the anti-cholinergic drug users were SMALLER than the other study participants. It is unclear as to why or how these drugs cause a shrinking of the brain, but the results of this study confirm what has been suspected by scientists all along: that these drugs contribute to cognitive decline and brain shrinkage.

But This Only Happens at Massive Doses, Right?

Research from 2013 performed at the Indiana University and funded by the NIH demonstrated that it takes just 60 days of taking these drugs at a normal dose for cognitive impairment to occur. 60 days!! That means if you’re taking Benadryl at its recommended dose each day for allergies during the spring, your cognitive functioning will suffer.

So we’re not talking about taking massive amounts here, or even taking the drug for years and years. We are talking about normal doses for relatively short periods of time. And many of these drugs are prescribed or used LONG-TERM, such as Paxil. Scary.

Evidence of the effects of anti-cholinergic activity on brain functioning has been around for quite a while. In the 1990s, researchers published a paper in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry that discussed the link between elevated levels of anti-cholinergics and dementia. A study out just this month in the same journal (June 2016) confirms these findings, demonstrating that in a depressed elderly population, the use of anti-cholinergic drugs is associated with a SIGNIFICANT increase in dementia.

So what drugs do I need to watch out for?

According to Aging in Brain Care, using drugs with a 2 or 3 score “mayincreasetheriskof cognitiveimpairmentby46%over6years. Additionally,eachonepointincreaseintheACBtotal scorehasbeencorrelatedwitha26%increaseinthe riskofdeath.”

Drugs with ACB of 2 or 3 (definite risk):

Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

Dimetapp (brompheneramine)

Tylenol PM (diphenhydramine component)

Thorazine (chlorpromazine)

Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)

Unisom (doxylamine)

Elavil (amitryptaline)

Tofranil (imipramine)

Zyprexa (olanzapine)

Paxil (paroxetine)

Phenergan (promethazine)

Seroquel (quetiapine)

Demerol (meperidime)

Tegretol (carbamazepine)

Products with a score of 1, as listed below, are potentially dangerous but their connection to impaired brain function is less clear.

Immodium (loperamide)

Effexor (venlafaxine)

Zantac (ranitidine)

Claritin (loratidine)

Coumadin (warfarin)

Xanax (alprazalome)

Abilify (aripiprazole)

Wellbutrin (buproprion)

Zyrtec (certirizine)

Tagamet (cimitidine)

Valium (diazepam)

Luvox (fluvoxamine)

Haldol (haloperidol)

Risperdal (risperidone)

Are there Alternatives to Benadryl?

Try using a natural method such as local honey to reduce your symptoms or perhaps visit a local acupuncturist. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can be very effective in reducing allergy symptoms. You can also try a homeopathic remedy like Sabadil or Natural D-Hist.

I will be discussing natural remedies for insomnia in a later post. If you are on any prescription drugs that show up on these lists, please discuss your concern with your primary care provider. Many doctors are not aware of these serious side effects, and we need to be informed health care consumers and advocate for ourselves.

11 thoughts on “Benadryl shrinks your brain. And so do these other common drugs.”

Wow, from allergy to dementia? “Nice”… Thank you for sharing this. As someone who has problems with allergies during spring I should be aware.

I’ve studied research that our brains are shrinking anyway. Reason being the two parts of the brain, one for fast decisions one for deep thinking. In general the one for the fast decision making is larger, but is shrinking because people don’t live in a jungle anymore and are not facing life and death decisions on daily basis. You can read about it if you like:http://www.bestbrainenhancement.com/brain-shrinkage-causes/

Keep posting such good stuff.

David

Hillary

(June 11, 2016 - 12:16 am)

Interesting, David. I am off to check out your blog. Thanks for stopping by!

Why are these drugs still available on the market? They are really dangerous! You just need to consume the drug for 60 days and you will have dangerous side effects!!More people should learn more about this.

Hillary

Wow. That is eye opening. I have taken some of these on this list as well as given some of them to my kids before. I never knew any of this information. When you think about it, it’s pretty scary. I guess we just trust the medicines that doctors recommend and stores sell. More people need to know about this. Thank you for the information.

This is a really great site. I’ve been looking for a site where I can find information on natural alternatives.
This article on Benadryl has been well researched and well written.
Love reading about all this stuff.
People should be made aware of things like this.

I like the straightforward academic style to your writing. Too often when I’ve read warnings like the one in this post, the author uses a slightly shrill and hectoring tone. Your presentation is more scientific and factual. It’s especially good to see you provide links to allow readers to verify what you’re saying.

The problem you’re highlighting is of special relevance to anyone living with the European Union, as the EU has made it more difficult for anyone in member states to offer alternative remedies following successful lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry.

Hillary

(June 16, 2016 - 1:49 am)

Thank you so much for the compliment. So, it’s harder to obtain alternative remedies in the EU? I was recently in London, and there seemed to be TONS of herb shops, homeopathic remedies and acupuncturist storefronts. Is it different in other countries in the EU?

Wow, fascinating stuff Hillary. I have pretty bad allergies and I’ve taken a lot of those medications in the past. I had no idea that acupuncture can help relieve allergy symptoms. I’m curious, how does that work exactly?

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My name is Hillary, and I am the founder of Eco-Friendly Girl. I live in Stuart Fl and am a wife, mom of 2, acupuncturist, animal-lover and researcher of all things supposedly natural. I believe we are here on Earth to fight the good fight and help our planet heal.